TULALIP — Bernie “Kai-Kai” Gobin, a 79-year-old Tulalip Tribal elder, died early May 5.

Gobin served on the Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors for more than two decades, but he was also known for his carvings and other artwork, including canoe paddles, masks, boxes and other pieces he gave away throughout his life.

Gobin was one of a number of Tribal members who worked on fishing-related issues for the Tribes. He traveled to Washington, D.C., frequently and created a small hatchery on the reservation in the 1970s, which grew and was later named in his honor.

As of press time, funeral details were still being planned.